Prayer

1. How to pray:

Lk.11:1-4 Lord, teach us to pray...when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in Heaven... (See also Mat.6:9-13 )

A. Praise and thank the Lord before petitioning Him:

Psa.95:2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving
Psa.100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful...and bless His name
Phi.4:6 With thanksgiving let your requests be made known

B. If you have the gift of tongues, pray and praise in it:

1Cor.14:2,4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh...unto God (and) edifieth himself
Rom.8:26,27 The Spirit...maketh intercession for us with groanings
Eph.6:18 Praying always with...supplication in the Spirit
Jude 20 Building up your...faith, praying in the Holy Ghost
1Cor.14:39 Forbid not to speak with tongues

C. Be specific and ask for what you need:

1Ki.3:5,9,10 [God told Solomon,] Ask what I shall give thee
Mat.7:7,8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find
Mat.21:22 Whatsoever ye ask in prayer...ye shall receive
Jn.16:24 Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full
Phi.4:6 Let your requests be made known unto God
Jam.4:2b Ye have not, because ye ask not

D. Pray to the Father in Jesus' name:

Jn.14:13,14 Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do
Jn.16:23 Whatsoever ye...ask Father in My name, He will give
(See also Jn.15:16b ; 16:26 ; Eph.2:18 .)

E. Prayer also includes you listening to God:

1Sam.3:9,10 If He call thee...say, "Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth"
Gen.24:63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide
Num.9:8 Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command
Psa.4:3,4 Lord will hear...commune with your heart...and be still
Psa.46:10 Be still, and know that I am God
(See also Eccl.5:1 ; Zeph.1:7 ; Zech.2:13 .)

F. Listen by meditating on God's Word:

Josh.1:8 Thou shalt meditate therein (the law) day and night
Psa.1:2 In His law doth he meditate day and night
Psa.119:148 [Before] the night watches...I meditate in Thy Word
1Tim.4:15 Meditate on these things; give thyself wholly to them

G. Be diligent to pray, don't be lazy:

Isa.64:7 There is none that calleth upon Thy name, that stirreth himself to take hold of Thee
Dan.9:13 All this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer
Jon.1:6 What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon God
Lk.22:46 Why sleep ye? Rise and pray
Lk.18:1 Men ought always to pray, and not to faint

2. Conditions to getting prayer answered:

A. Pray in faith:

Mat.21:21,22 Have faith...doubt not...whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
Mk.11:24 When ye pray, believe that ye receive and ye shall have
Rom.4:21 Being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform
Heb.11:6 He that cometh to God must believe that He is
Jam.1:5-7 Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering
(See also Mat.17:18-20 ; Lk.7:1-10 .)

B. Obey God and do His will:

Jn.9:31 If any man...doeth God's will, him He heareth
Jn.15:7 If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you
1Jn.3:22 We ask, we receive, because we keep His (commands) (See also Isa.58:6-9a )

C. Submit yourself to God and pray according to His will:

Psa.143:10 Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God
Mat.6:10 Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven
Lk.22:42 Nevertheless not My will, but Thine (God's), be done
Jn.5:30 [Jesus:] I seek not Mine Own will, but will of (God)
1Jn.5:14 If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth

D. Pray humbly:

Dan.9:18b We do not present our supplications...(because of) our righteousnesses, but for Thy great mercies
Lk.18:10-14 The publican (said), God be merciful to me a sinner
Jam.4:6 God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble

3. Prayer promises:

2Pet.1:4 Are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises

A. Remind God of His promises when praying:

Gen.32:6-12 Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed [and prayed, reminding God of His promises of protection]
Neh.1:4-11 [Nehemiah prayed:] Remember...the word that Thou commandest Thy servant Moses

B. Some promises to claim in prayer:

Psa.37:4,5 Delight thyself in Lord: and He shall give thee desires
Isa.65:24 Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear
Jer.33:3 Call unto Me, and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things
Jn.15:7 Ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you
Jn.15:16b Whatsoever ye ask in My name...[God will] give it
Psa.81:10b Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it

C. The Lord promises to hear prayer:

2Sam.22:7 In my distress I called...He did hear my voice
Psa.34:15,17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth
Psa.72:12 He shall deliver the needy when he crieth
Psa.91:15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him

D. God's blessings for those who seek Him:

2Chr.26:5 As long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper
2Chr.31:21 He (sought God) with all his heart, and prospered

4. How not to pray:

A. Don't be disobedient:

Deut.1:43,45 Ye would not hear, but rebelled against (Word) of the Lord...the Lord would not hearken to your voice
Deut.3:23-27 [Moses' request to enter Canaan denied.-- Num.20:12 ]
1Sam.28:5,6 When Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not [See the reason in 1Sam.28:15-19 ]
Isa.1:15 When ye make many prayers, I will not hear
Mic.3:4 Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but He will not hear... they have behaved themselves ill (See also 1Sam.13:8-14 and 14:37 ; Hos.5;6 .)

B. Don't be disbelieving:

Job 9:16 If I called, and He answered me; yet would I not believe He had hearkened unto my voice
Mat.17:19,20a Why could not we cast him out? Because of your unbelief
Heb.11:6 Without faith is it impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is

C. Don't harbour unrepented sin in your heart:

Psa.66:18,19 If I regard iniquity in my heart, Lord will not hear
Isa.59:1,2 Your sins have hid His face...that He will not hear
Jam.5:16 Confess your faults...and pray one for another

D. Don't doubt and disobey the Word:

Pro.1:24-28 Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer
Pro.28:9 He that turneth ear...his prayer shall be abomination
Zech.7:12,13 Therefore...they cried, and I would not hear
Jam.1:5-7 Let not that man [who doubts] think he shall receive anything of the Lord

E. Don't hold resentment or "oughts" in your heart:

Mk.11:25 When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought

F. Don't have selfish motives:

Jam.4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts
Deut.23:4,5 They hired against thee Balaam...to curse thee. [But] the Lord would not hearken unto Balaam

G. Don't pray in pride, but sincerely and humbly:

Mat.6:5,6 Not be as hypocrites (who) love to pray [publicly]
Lk.18:10-14 God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are

H. Don't pray long, repetitive prayers:

Eccl.5:2 God is in Heaven...let thy words be few
Mat.6:7,8 When ye pray, use not vain repetitions
Mat.23:14 Woe unto you (who) for a pretence make long prayer
Josh.7:6,10 [God told Joshua to stop praying and get up]

I. What happens when we don't pray:

Jam.4:2 Ye have not, because ye ask not
(See also Isa.64:7 )

5. Private prayer and united prayer with others:

A. Private prayer:

Mat.6:6 When thou prayest, enter into thy closet...in secret
Mk.1:35 He...departed into a solitary place, and there prayed
Mk.6:46 He sent them away, He departed to a mountain to pray
Lk.5:16 He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed

B. United prayer:

Mat.18:19,20 Where two or three are gathered together in My name
Acts 1:13-15 These all [120 people] continued with one accord in prayer...in an upper room
Acts 4:23-31 [After a beating, Peter and John held a prayer meeting]
Acts 12:12 House of Mary...many were gathered together praying

C. "Watching" in prayer:

1Sam.15:11 It grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night
Mat.26:40,41 Could ye not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray
Lk.6:12 He (Jesus) continued all night in prayer to God
Acts 12:5 Peter was kept in prison...prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him
Eph.6:18 Praying always...and watching thereunto

6. When to pray:

A. Be in a constant attitude of prayer:

1Chr.16:11 Seek the Lord...seek His face continually
Pro.3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct
Lk.18:1 Men ought always to pray
Lk.21:36a Watch ye therefore, and pray always
1Thes.5:17 Pray without ceasing (See also Eph.6:18)

B. Pray in time of special need:

Psa.50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble
Psa.27:8 When Thou saidst, "Seek ye My face"
Psa.107:19 They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saveth
Heb.4:16 Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may...find...help in time of need
Jam.5:13 Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray
(See also 2Chr.14:11,12 ; Psa.34:4,6 .)

C. Morning prayer:

Psa.5:3 In the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee
Psa.63:1 O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee
Psa.119:147 I [rose before] the dawning of the morning, and cried
Pro.8:17 Those that seek Me early shall find Me
Mk.1:35 In the morning, rising up before day, He...prayed

D. Evening prayer:

Mk.6:46,47 (Jesus) departed to mountain to pray...even was come
Gen.24:63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide
Psa.55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray
Dan.6:10 Daniel...kneeled three times a day, and prayed

E. Prayer in the night:

Lam.2:19 Arise, cry out in the night...pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord
Psa.42:8 In the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer
Psa.63:5b,6 When I...meditate on Thee in the night watches
Isa.26:9a With my soul have I desired Thee in the night
Lk.6:12 (Jesus) continued all night in prayer to God
Acts 16:25 At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises
(See also Psa.4:4 ; 119:55,62 .)

7. Wholehearted desperate prayer:

A. Stir yourself up; call on God wholeheartedly:

1Sam.15:11,16 It grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night
Isa.64:7a None...stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee
Jer.29:13 Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye search for Me with all your heart (See also Deut.4:29)
Lam.2:19 Arise, cry out...pour out thine heart like water
Lk.22:44 Being in an agony, He (Jesus) prayed more earnestly
Heb.4:16 Let us therefore come boldly...in time of need
Heb.5:7 (Jesus) offered up prayers...with strong crying and tears
Jam.5:16b Effectual fervent prayer...availeth much
(See Psa.61:1,2 ; 119:10 .)

B. Praying fervently and desperately for others:

Rom.15:30,31 Strive (agonise) together with me in our prayers to God
Col.4:12 Epaphrus...always labouring fervently for you in prayers

C. Don't give up; be persistent:

Gen.18:23-32 [Abraham repeatedly asks God to spare Sodom for the sake of the righteous. God agrees, if there are 10]
Gen.32:24-28 [Jacob refuses to let angel go until he blesses him]
Lk.11:5-10 Because of his importunity (insistence) he will give
Lk.18:1-8a [Widow and unjust judge] Lest by her continual coming
Rom.12:12 Continuing instant (steadfast, persevering) in prayer
Eph.6:18 Praying always...watching thereunto with perseverance
Jam.5:16b-18 The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man (See 1Ki.18:2,41-45 )

D. Challenge God to keep His Word and answer prayer:

2Ki.2:14 [Elisha challenges:] "Where is the God of Elijah?"
Isa.45:11b Concerning the work of My hands command ye Me
(See also Exo.32:11-14 )

E. Sometimes you can change God's mind through prayer:

Gen.19:17-21 I will not overthrow this city (Zoar), for the which thou hast spoken
Exo.32:9-14 Moses besought the Lord...and the Lord repented of the evil which He [had] thought to do
2Ki.20:1-6 [King Hezekiah was told he would die, but when he prayed, God changed His mind and healed him]
Amos 7:1-6 The Lord repented for this: This also shall not be
Jon.3:4-10 [Nineveh cried out and repented, so God spared it]

F. Repeating your desperate prayer:

1Ki.18:42,43 Elijah...put his face between his knees...Go 7 times
Mat.26:44 (Jesus) prayed the third time, saying the same words

G. Fasting and prayer:

Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and He was intreated of us
Joel 2:12 Turn ye to Me with all your heart, and with fasting
Mat.17:21 This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting
(See also Deut.9:9,18 ; Acts 13:2,3 ; 1Cor.7:5 .)

8. Other points on prayer:

A. Jesus mediates and prays for us:

Rom.8:34 Christ...Who is at the right hand of God...maketh intercession for us
Heb.7:25 He ever liveth to make intercession for [us]
(See also Lk.22:32 ; Jn.17:9 .)

B. The Holy Spirit prays for us:

Rom.8:26,27 (The Spirit) maketh intercession for the saints

C. Be thankful to the Lord for answering prayer:

Psa.116:1,2,7 I love the Lord, because He hath heard my (prayers)
(See also Psa.30:1-4 ; 66:16,17,19,20 .)

D. Prayer is precious:

Psa.141:2 Let my prayer be set before Thee as incense
Pro.15:8b The prayer of the upright is His delight
Rev.5:8 Golden vials full of odours are the prayers of saints (See also Rev.8:3 )

E. Giving thanks before eating:

1Sam.9:13 People will not eat till he...bless the sacrifice
Mat.14:19 Looking up to Heaven, He blessed and brake...the loaves
Mat.26:26 Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave
Mk.8:6 He (Jesus) took the seven loaves, and gave thanks
Acts 27:35 He (Paul) took bread, and gave thanks to God
1Tim.4:3-5 [Food] sanctified (cleansed) by prayer

9. Ways God answers prayer:

A. Answer to prayer greater than request:

1Ki.3:7-14 [Solomon prayed for wisdom and God granted him much more]
Eph.3:20 Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask
Acts 12:1-16 [Church prayed for Peter, but not quite expecting his miraculous release from prison (vs.15,16)]

B. Answer to prayer delayed (It tries our faith):

Job 30:20 [Job's prayer not answered immediately]
Psa.40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and He...heard my cry
Jer.42:4,7 [Jeremiah's prayer answered 10 days after he prayed]
Lam.3:25,26 The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him (See also Psa.62:1 )
Dan.10:2,12,13 [The answer to Daniel's prayer was delayed for 21 days]
Lk.18:7,8 [Answer] His elect...though He bear long with them
Heb.10:36 Patience...after ye have done will of God, receive
Rev.6:10,11 How long, O Lord? [Answer:] Rest yet a little season

C. Answer to prayer different from request:

Deut.3:23-27 [Moses allowed to view the promised land, not enter]
Jn.11:1-3,6 [Jesus is asked to heal Lazarus, but lets him die, then resurrects him] (See Jn.11:14,15,32,37,43-45 )
2Cor.12:7-9 [Paul prays for healing; instead is given grace to bear his affliction]
(See also 2Ki.5:9-13 )

D. Beware about insisting that God grant your request:

Psa.106:15 He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul
(See 1Sam.8:4-22 ; 12:1,13,16-19 re: asking for a king)